For
They Have Given A Tiny Part Of Their Surplus,
But
She, Poor As She Is,
Has
Given Everything She Has.
Scripture
Luke
21
1
While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping
their gifts in the collection box.
4 For they
have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has
given everything she has.”
Observation
This story
fascinates me!
Jesus is watching
as people give their offerings and He sees this widow drop in two
tiny coins. He watched all the rich people give their offerings and
then He compared what the widow gave to the gifts of the rich and her
two tiny coins won out. She out gave everyone else!
Pastor Bruce said
yesterday that there is that voice in our head that always challenges
us when we get ready to give our tithes and offerings.
The voice in our
head may say, “They may not spend or use my tithes and offerings in
the right way, or the voice may say, “If I give my tithe and
offerings then I won't be able to pay my bills!” And the voice in
your head may tempt you not to be faithful by placing in your mind
other similar thoughts, but the truth of God is this, “God loves a
cheerful giver!”
So you might be
wondering what happened to that widow who put everything she owned
into that offering plate that day. Well I think I know.
The answer to
what happened to that widow I believe can be found in these three
passages of Scripture:
“Give,
and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed
down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured
into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get
back.” Luke
6:38
“Bring
all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my
Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of
Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I
will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to
take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!
Malachi
3:10
Remember this—a
farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one
who plants generously will get a generous crop.
You must each decide in your heart
how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to
pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”And God
will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have
everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2
Corinthians 9:6-8
Application
I
will not listen to the voice in my head that questions my giving to
the Lord.
How
about you?
Prayer
Heavenly
Father, help me to honor You in my giving. Show me how to use what
You have provided us in a way that honors You. I know that You are
concerned with how I manage what You have loaned to me. You own
everything and I know that what I have is just on loan to me. I am
not taking anything with me when I leave this earth. Thank You for
being so good to us. We are blessed.
Daily
Bible Reading: Ezra 9,10; Psalms 131; Luke 21; Psalm 8, Psalm 138;
Proverbs 8
…...
I
just saw this blog that I wrote on October 8, 2015
…...
It
Is Better
To Be Godly And Have Little
Than To Be Evil And Rich
To Be Godly And Have Little
Than To Be Evil And Rich
Scripture
Psalm
37
16
It is better to be godly and have little
than to be evil and rich.
than to be evil and rich.
Observation
I
can remember when God called me into the ministry and I started to go
to college to prepare for the ministry. My father in law, Clayton
Bearden, when he heard that I was going to stop working construction
(I was making a lot of money) and start working part-time at the
church (not making much money) he was not happy about my decision at
all.
He
said to me, “You are going to starve my daughter to death!”
It
was a few years later while Kathy and I were living in Texas and
while I was going to Seminary that Kathy’s Dad at 67 years of age
gave his life to Jesus Christ. It brings tears of joy to my eyes just
thinking back on what God did in Clayton’s life.
Kathy’s
Dad watched how God took care of us. After Clayton gave his life to
Christ he even starting sending us “love gifts”. Before he gave
his life to Christ it would embarrass him when people helped us out
by giving us food or helped us financially, but once he met Jesus all
of that changed.
To
this day I have never seen a life so transformed as Kathy’s Dad’s
life. He only lived 2 years after accepting Jesus into his life, but
what a different life he lived!
He
was a walking example of 2 Corinthians 5:17 ... “When someone
becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not
the same anymore. A new life has begun!”
Living
godly lives doesn’t mean always doing everything right. You and I
are broken. We are sinners. We will never do everything right!
Striving
to put God first everyday is what it means to live a godly life. It
doesn’t mean that we are going to do it perfectly.
Why
don’t you stop right now and ask Jesus Christ to help you life a
godly life? Ask Jesus Christ to take control of your life.
All
the stuff, no matter how much you and I accumulate, will ever give us
the joy that living for God and putting Him first can bring!
Application
I
will strive to live a godly life today. How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly
Father, right now my eyes are filled with tears of joy over what You
did in the life of my Father in law. I know that if You did that for
a man when he was 67 years old I know that You can save those in my
family that still are acting like You do not exist. I will not give
up on them.
Open
their spiritual eyes so that they can see what they are missing.
Bring people into their lives who will challenge them to live for
You. Save them Lord. Please save them! Show them that it is better to
be godly and have little than to be evil and rich.
>
I have made it a habit to pray for those who read this blog! I enjoy
lifting you and your family up to the Lord in prayer.
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